A news anchor for a Washington, D.C. Fox affiliate has been suspended after posting a tweet where he said he is “annoyed” that obese people are being prioritized in receiving the coronavirus vaccine.
Blake McCoy has since apologized and the tweet has since been deleted but I’m going to repeat it here in all its repugnant glory.
“I’m annoyed obese people of all ages get priority vaccine access before all essential workers.”
“When most stayed home, we went into work everyday last March, April, May and everyday since putting ourselves and loved ones at risk.
“Vaccinate all essential workers.”
“Then obese.”
According to the current plan [1] for D.C.’s rollout of the vaccine, people with a higher risk of complications from the disease are included in Phase 1c Tier 1. Under this schedule, such essential workers as healthcare and teachers will receive the vaccine ahead of those with health complications. They are, however, placed ahead of “essential employees working in media and mass communication.”
And folks on Twitter aren’t cutting McCoy any slack, apology or not, ComicSands [2] reports.
This ain’t it gays. Don’t be Blake McCoy… wow. Circuit party muscle gays are really the bottom of the barrel of human empathy and understanding. pic.twitter.com/QRrXk659LX [3]
— Absozero6 (@absozero6) February 24, 2021 [4]
I see @fox5dc [5]’s finest anchor is at it again pic.twitter.com/qIwB3wVaUU [6]
— Lukas Pietrzak (@Ltpietrzak) February 23, 2021 [7]
How does that Blake McCoy guy in DC have a job? LOL like how
— Bobby with a y (@B_McC2) February 23, 2021 [8]
@BlakeMcCoyDC [9] the entitlement of white men in America. #blakemccoydc [10] #blakemccoy [11] #douchebag [12] #fox5dc [13] pic.twitter.com/4ib2f9eLgD [14]
— Eric (@GettingEricD) February 24, 2021 [15]
McCoy is being roundly criticized [16] for his insensitive, fat-shaming tweet, and let me tell you, it’s well-deserved. Many chronically ill people gain weight over time because illness limits their ability to exercise properly. It can cause changes in a person’s metabolism that can contribute to weight gain and sometimes the medications used to treat these illnesses causes weight gain. He’s also being mocked for stupidly implying that a TV anchor is an essential worker above high-risk health categories.
One would think that since McCoy is a gay man, and therefore part of a group that’s still heavily discriminated against it would mean he’s empathetic but sadly it doesn’t sound like that’s the case.
But here’s another fact that people didn’t fail to mention: McCoy has had a history of doing unsafe things that have increased the risk to himself and others as the pandemic drags on. This includes a trip to Hawaii.
Which of course, led people on Twitter to conclude McCoy is a hypocrite.
Imagine traveling this much during a pandemic and still thinking you deserve priority for receiving the vaccine @blakemccoydc [9] pic.twitter.com/rdAADz045n [17]
— Creatina Turner (@BrendanOde) February 23, 2021 [18]
I commented on one of Blake McCoy's instagram posts a while back about how he hadn't been wearing his masks properly and molding the nose clip to his face and a pick-me gay told me to mind my own business because ugly fat people like me were more susceptible to the virus so 🤷🏻♂️🤷🏻♂️
— Allen A. (@Ingenieux) February 24, 2021 [19]
News anchor for Fox 5 station in D.C. slammed for tweeting he’s 'annoyed [that] obese people of all ages' getting vaccine before essential workers
He later apologized and deleted the tweet, but his acknowledgement of wrongdoing was fiercely criticized.https://t.co/zqaMYZ60L1 [20]
— New York Daily News (@NYDailyNews) February 24, 2021 [21]
With 5 mins on search, I found these- which *haven't* been deleted. I'm not here to "cancel" Blake McCoy. I hope that there is some accountability so perhaps he will take a moment to learn why tweets like this represent his privilege & a misuse of the platform he is honored with pic.twitter.com/pG6u2XAWRG [22]
— Adam (@pulvinator) February 23, 2021 [23]
As I mentioned earlier, McCoy has apologized, but for some Twitter users, the apology rang rather hollow.
Earlier today I Tweeted something insensitive and offensive. I truly regret my words and want to apologize.
I have deleted my tweet and ask that you accept my sincere apology.— Blake McCoy (@BlakeMcCoyDC) February 23, 2021 [24]
And it rang hollow for good reason:
🙄 Below you’ll see the first reason the tweet was deleted: pic.twitter.com/GOY19H902k [25]
— Ben (@DuhBen) February 23, 2021 [26]
Fatphobic news caster Blake McCoy blocked me. Has he blocked anyone else @CWNewser [27] @DCHomos [28] @GayFatFriend [29] pic.twitter.com/6nnhPuKn7C [30]
— Travis Curry (@radtrav) February 24, 2021 [31]
While the station has suspended McCoy, it is unclear what, if any, additional actions will be taken.